CHICAGO (January 25, 2021)
 
In Short
Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Murczek crushed a career-best 16 kills as short-handed Loyola University Chicago (1-0, 1-0 MVC) survived a scare from Valparaiso (0-1, 0-1 MVC) this afternoon to earn a 25-18, 25-9, 23-25, 15-25, 15-10 victory this afternoon at The Alfie Norville Practice Facility in the 2021 spring season opener for both clubs. Loyola played without sophomore outside hitter Addie Barnes, who was the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.
 
How It Happened
After falling behind, 12-8, in set one, Loyola used a 10-2 run that featured two kills from both Murczek and freshman outside hitter Emily Banitt, to stake hold to an 18-14 lead. That advantage would eventually grow to as many as seven points, at 23-16, on a Kelsey Watson kill, and Loyola would pick up a 25-18 win to open the match.
 
Set two was complete domination on Loyola's part as it hit a sparkling .455 (12-2-22) compared to Valpo's error-riddled -.333 (2-11-27) en route to a commanding 25-9 victory.
 
Despite taking the first two sets, Loyola was unable to carry that momentum over, hitting just .000 (12-12-47) in the third set. The Ramblers appeared on their way to another easy victory when they charged out to a 7-1 lead thanks to a pair of kills from Anna Feldkamp, and they were seemingly in control late when back-to-back kills from Murczek and Banitt stretched its lead to 18-13.However, the Crusaders closed out the set on a 12-5 run to take a 25-23 decision that forced a fourth set.
 
The Ramblers showed their youth in set four, hitting -.108 (7-11-37). Valpo took control from the outset, scoring the first three points and was never threatened in a 25-15 victory.
 
Murczek came up big in the decisive fifth set, totaling five kills on six swings, including the stop that gave her team the lead for good, at 3-2, after Loyola had watched Valpo score the first two points of the set. A 6-1 Ramblers run wiped out that early two-point deficit and put Loyola ahead for good, at 6-3, and they would secure a 15-10 victory to open a season with a win for the first time since 2015.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• In addition to her career-high 16 kills, which easily surpassed her previous high of 11 set in September 2019 at DePaul, Murczek delivered 14 digs.
• Banitt, who was making her collegiate debut, blasted 12 kills and added 12 digs, while fellow freshman Anna Feldkamp pitched in 11 kills in her first appearance as a Rambler.
• Freshman libero Grace Hinchman posted 25 digs and another one of the newbies, setter Jenna Appel, dished out 37 assists and totaled seven digs.
• Sophomore middle Taylor Venuto put up eight kills and five blocks.
• Bella Ravotto paced the Valpo attack with 12 kills.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers close out their brief two-match homestand Friday (Jan. 29) when they welcome Butler to The Alfie Norville Practice Facility for a 5 p.m. contest